Samsung launches the Galaxy XCover Pro with IP68 certification and removable battery

Contrary to what OEMs tell you, a modern-day smartphone is still very fragile. That is a part of the reason why 'rugged' smartphones exist. They can operate under extreme conditions and withstand a significant amount of abuse. Samsung just unveiled its latest rugged smartphone -the Galaxy XCover Pro.

Before we dive into the spec sheet, let's take a look at what makes the phone rugged. For starters, it has an IP68 water resistance rating and US military standard certification (MIL-STD-810). It also comes with thick screen borders, a metal frame, and reinforced corners, which does little for aesthetics, but ensures that the Galaxy XCover Pro can hold its own under trying circumstances.

The Galaxy Xcover Pro has a 6.3-inch 1080p LCD panel. It is powered by an Exynos 9611 SoC coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Rugged phones don't usually come with stellar cameras and the Galaxy XCover Pro is no different. It has a 25MP wide-angle lens and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor complete with a 13MP selfie camera. The 4,050mAh removable battery supports 15W fast charging. Props to Samsung for figuring out how to make the device waterproof and throwing in a user replaceable battery at the same time. 

Lastly, it comes with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and two programmable buttons. The buttons can be mapped to perform a variety of tasks and can come in handy when unlocking the phone isn't an option. Samsung claims that it is possible interact with the screen even when it is wet and while wearing gloves.

The Galaxy XCover Pro will be available in Europe starting February 2020 and will retail at around €500 (~$556).